IMPACTED BUSINESS OWNERS ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GETTING READY. THESE DETOURS SEND DRIVERS ON A WIDE LOOP AROUND THIS SECTION OF THE PARKWAY SO THAT CREWS CAN SLIDE THE NEARLY FINISHED COMMERCIAL STREET BRIDGE INTO PLACE IN AN HOUR DRIVE TODAY. THAT DETOUR TOOK ABOUT SEVEN TIMES LONGER THAN THE SAME TRIP NORMALLY TAKES ON THE PARKWAY. THAT’S GOING TO BE PRETTY TEDIOUS. YOU ARE WATCHING IT IN ACTION. THIS IS ONE PATH PENNDOT SUGGESTS DRIVERS TAKE TO MAKE THEIR WAY AROUND. WHEN THE SMALL SECTION OF THE PARKWAY EAST CLOSES FOR NEARLY A MONTH, CREATING A LARGE DETOUR. EASTBOUND DRIVERS ARE TOLD TO EXIT SQUIRREL HILL TOWARD HOMESTEAD OVER THE HOMESTEAD GRAYS BRIDGE, DOWN EIGHTH OVER THE RANKIN BRIDGE ALONG SOUTH BRADDOCK AVENUE, THEN BACK ONTO THE PARKWAY THAT TOOK US JUST UNDER 20 MINUTES, BUT WE DROVE THIS AT NOON ON A THURSDAY WHEN NO OTHER DRIVERS NEEDED THE DETOUR. THIS ROUTE MAKES A LARGE LOOP, AND SOME BUSINESSES ALONG REGENT SQUARE WHERE ACCESS INBOUND WILL BE CUT OFF. ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD MEAN FOR THEM. NO PLANS TO CHANGE ANYTHING, JUST MAYBE REMINDING PEOPLE THAT THEY. ESPECIALLY IF THEY COME FROM FURTHER OUT OF PITTSBURGH, THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULTY DEPENDING ON WHAT SIDE THEY’RE COMING FROM. WE’RE NOT SURE IF IT’S ACTUALLY GOING TO BACK TRAFFIC UP, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF PEOPLE TAKING ALTERNATE ROUTES. WE DON’T KNOW IF THEY’RE GOING TO AVOID. WE’RE JUST OPEN TO BEING FLEXIBLE. YOU KNOW, THAT’S THE BEST YOU CAN DO AT THIS POINT. WHILE BUSINESSES WAIT, DRIVERS WILL HAVE TO PLAN, THE SECOND ROUTE WE DROVE WAS INBOUND. ANOTHER PENNDOT SUGGESTION. THIS DETOUR TAKES DRIVERS OFF THE PARKWAY AT WILKINSBURG ALONG PENN AVENUE TO FIFTH AVENUE, THROUGH THE HEART OF OAKLAND, ONTO THE BOULEVARD OF THE ALLIES, AND THEN BACK ONTO THE PARKWAY. THIS ROUTE TOOK US JUST A FEW MINUTES LONGER, BUT AGAIN. MIDDAY, SO NO RUSH HOUR. BUT BASED ON OUR POINT OF VIEW. EITHER WAY, YOU MAY WANT TO ADD A LITTLE OR A LOT OF EXTRA TIME TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THOSE DETOURS AND ACCESS TO A MAP. YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE FOR YOUR ROUTE, HEAD TO WTAE.COM. COVERING ALLEG
PennDOT details detours ahead of 25-day Parkway East closure
Updated: 7:02 PM EDT May 14, 2026
Interstate 376 (Parkway East) will shut down for 25 days between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and Edgewood-Swissvale exits as part of the Commercial Street Bridge replacement project.FOR TURN-BY-TURN INSTRUCTIONS HEAD TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGEThe closure of the Parkway East is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. on July 10.Commercial Street beneath the Parkway will also be closed during this time.On Wednesday evening, PennDOT officials and construction managers shared detour and demolition information with concerned drivers and residents. The closure, which has been years in the making, is expected to cause significant traffic disruptions for the 100,000 cars that use the Parkway daily. Drivers will be rerouted across nearby roads, with detours available, but patience will be required to navigate the stretch. PennDOT said it understands the impact and is working to complete the project as quickly as possible. INTERACTIVE MAP: “Our construction contract includes a monetary incentive to the contractor for every hour that the parkway is open prior to the 25-day mark. Similarly, there is a monetary liquidated damage also built in for every hour it is not open beyond the 25 days,” said Jason Zang, PennDOT District 11. “I feel like there’s going to be maybe 30 minutes to 40 minutes on the parkway, so I’m kind of worried about that,” said Cynthia Burnham from Swissvale. PennDOT has provided a map showing interstate and local detours, along with three alternate routes from Monroeville to the airport, downtown and the South Hills. “While these seem way out of the way, they may be the best choice by travel time, depending on your destination,” said John Myler, senior assistant construction manager for PennDOT.The interstate detour will take drivers through Oakland, while the local detour will use the Homestead Grays and Rankin bridges to bypass the closure. Off-duty police officers will direct traffic in some areas, but no local detour signs will be posted. PennDOT said road and ramp closures will appear in GPS applications, but official detours will not. Drivers are encouraged to use the 511 app for real-time drive times and recommended routes. PennDOT said it has been coordinating with employers and trucking companies in the region and is urging people to avoid driving unless absolutely necessary. Officials recommend working from home, carpooling, and using public transit during the closure. There will be park-and-ride and carpooling locations for PennDOT, PRT, and Westmoreland Transit. Interstate Detour WestboundFrom westbound (inbound) I-376, take the Wilkinsburg (Exit 78B) exit toward PA 8 NorthMerge onto Route 8 (Ardmore Boulevard)Continue straight onto Route 8 (Penn Avenue)Turn left onto Fifth AvenueAfter going through Oakland, take the ramp to the left for westbound I-376. Use caution for opposing trafficMerge onto the Boulevard of the Allies and stay in the right lane to merge onto westbound I-376 toward Downtown/Fort Pitt BridgeContinue straight to merge onto westbound (inbound) I-376Interstate Detour EastboundFrom eastbound (outbound) I-376, take the Forbes Avenue/ Oakland (Exit 72A) exitMerge onto Forbes AvenueTurn left onto South Bellefield AvenueTurn right onto Fifth AvenueTurn right onto Route 8 (Penn Avenue)Bear right to continue on Route 8 (Ardmore Boulevard)Take the ramp to 376/22/30 toward Pittsburgh/MonroevilleAt the split, bear left to eastbound 376/22 toward MonroevilleMerge onto eastbound (outbound) I-376Local Detour WestboundFrom westbound (inbound) I-376, take the Edgewood/Swissvale (Exit 77) exitAt the end of the ramp, turn left onto South Braddock AvenueContinue onto the Rankin BridgeTurn right onto Route 837 (River Road)Continue onto Route 837 (8th Avenue)Turn right onto the Homestead Grays BridgeContinue onto Browns Hill RoadContinue straight onto Beechwood BoulevardFollow signs for westbound I-376 toward PittsburghTake the ramp to westbound I-376 toward PittsburghLocal Detour EastboundFrom eastbound (outbound) I-376, take the Squirrel Hill/Homestead (Exit 74) exit, continuing straight onto Beechwood Boulevard toward HomesteadContinue straight onto Browns Hill RoadContinue onto the Homestead Grays BridgeTurn left onto Route 837 (8th Avenue)Continue straight on Route 837 (River Road)Turn left onto the Rankin BridgeContinue onto South Braddock AvenueBear right to merge onto eastbound I-376 toward Monroeville
PITTSBURGH —
Interstate 376 (Parkway East) will shut down for 25 days between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and Edgewood-Swissvale exits as part of the Commercial Street Bridge replacement project.
FOR TURN-BY-TURN INSTRUCTIONS HEAD TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
The closure of the Parkway East is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. on July 10.
Commercial Street beneath the Parkway will also be closed during this time.
On Wednesday evening, PennDOT officials and construction managers shared detour and demolition information with concerned drivers and residents.
The closure, which has been years in the making, is expected to cause significant traffic disruptions for the 100,000 cars that use the Parkway daily.
Drivers will be rerouted across nearby roads, with detours available, but patience will be required to navigate the stretch. PennDOT said it understands the impact and is working to complete the project as quickly as possible.
INTERACTIVE MAP:
“Our construction contract includes a monetary incentive to the contractor for every hour that the parkway is open prior to the 25-day mark. Similarly, there is a monetary liquidated damage also built in for every hour it is not open beyond the 25 days,” said Jason Zang, PennDOT District 11.
“I feel like there’s going to be maybe 30 minutes to 40 minutes on the parkway, so I’m kind of worried about that,” said Cynthia Burnham from Swissvale.
PennDOT
Parkway East Closure Detours
PennDOT has provided a map showing interstate and local detours, along with three alternate routes from Monroeville to the airport, downtown and the South Hills.
“While these seem way out of the way, they may be the best choice by travel time, depending on your destination,” said John Myler, senior assistant construction manager for PennDOT.
The interstate detour will take drivers through Oakland, while the local detour will use the Homestead Grays and Rankin bridges to bypass the closure. Off-duty police officers will direct traffic in some areas, but no local detour signs will be posted.
PennDOT said road and ramp closures will appear in GPS applications, but official detours will not. Drivers are encouraged to use the 511 app for real-time drive times and recommended routes.
PennDOT said it has been coordinating with employers and trucking companies in the region and is urging people to avoid driving unless absolutely necessary. Officials recommend working from home, carpooling, and using public transit during the closure.
There will be park-and-ride and carpooling locations for PennDOT, PRT, and Westmoreland Transit.
Interstate Detour WestboundFrom westbound (inbound) I-376, take the Wilkinsburg (Exit 78B) exit toward PA 8 NorthMerge onto Route 8 (Ardmore Boulevard)Continue straight onto Route 8 (Penn Avenue)Turn left onto Fifth AvenueAfter going through Oakland, take the ramp to the left for westbound I-376. Use caution for opposing trafficMerge onto the Boulevard of the Allies and stay in the right lane to merge onto westbound I-376 toward Downtown/Fort Pitt BridgeContinue straight to merge onto westbound (inbound) I-376Interstate Detour EastboundFrom eastbound (outbound) I-376, take the Forbes Avenue/ Oakland (Exit 72A) exitMerge onto Forbes AvenueTurn left onto South Bellefield AvenueTurn right onto Fifth AvenueTurn right onto Route 8 (Penn Avenue)Bear right to continue on Route 8 (Ardmore Boulevard)Take the ramp to 376/22/30 toward Pittsburgh/MonroevilleAt the split, bear left to eastbound 376/22 toward MonroevilleMerge onto eastbound (outbound) I-376Local Detour WestboundFrom westbound (inbound) I-376, take the Edgewood/Swissvale (Exit 77) exitAt the end of the ramp, turn left onto South Braddock AvenueContinue onto the Rankin BridgeTurn right onto Route 837 (River Road)Continue onto Route 837 (8th Avenue)Turn right onto the Homestead Grays BridgeContinue onto Browns Hill RoadContinue straight onto Beechwood BoulevardFollow signs for westbound I-376 toward PittsburghTake the ramp to westbound I-376 toward PittsburghLocal Detour EastboundFrom eastbound (outbound) I-376, take the Squirrel Hill/Homestead (Exit 74) exit, continuing straight onto Beechwood Boulevard toward HomesteadContinue straight onto Browns Hill RoadContinue onto the Homestead Grays BridgeTurn left onto Route 837 (8th Avenue)Continue straight on Route 837 (River Road)Turn left onto the Rankin BridgeContinue onto South Braddock AvenueBear right to merge onto eastbound I-376 toward Monroeville